Phoenix Mercury Selects Nikki Greene 26th Overall

PHOENIX – The Phoenix Mercury selected Penn State forward/center Nikki Greene in the third round (26th overall) of the 2013 WNBA Draft tonight. Greene joins the No. 1 overall pick, Brittney Griner, to round out the Mercury’s 2013 draft board. The No. 1 overall pick was the third such selection in the history of the Mercury franchise (Diana Taurasi, 2004 and Lindsey Harding, 2007) and came in what was considered the most anticipated draft class in league history.

The 6-4 Greene leaves Penn State as the only player in school history with 1,000 points, 900 rebounds and 200 blocks. She finished second in school history with 215 career blocks and fourth all-time with 994 rebounds. Greene’s presence in the paint helped propel the Nittany Lions to back-to-back Big 10 regular season titles and a trip to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen in 2011-12. As a senior, she was voted to the All-Big 10 Third Team after posting the third best offensive rebound average in Penn State history (3.7 per game).

Greene and the 6-8 Griner will join a returning Mercury frontline of Krystal Thomas (6-5), DeWanna Bonner (6-4) and Candice Dupree (6-2). As a collegian, Griner recorded the most blocks in NCAA history, men or women (748); Thomas was the fifth-best rebounder in the WNBA last season, averaging 8.0 per game; Bonner owns the Mercury franchise record for highest career rebound average (6.5 per game); and Dupree owns the two best rebounding seasons in franchise history.

The formidable frontline will debut the 2013 regular season on May 27 when the No. 1 overall pick, Griner, and the Mercury will host the No. 2 overall selection, Elena Delle Donne, and the Chicago Sky at US Airways Center. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. PT and will be broadcast on ESPN2.

In honor of the historic No. 1 overall draft pick, a special “Griner Pack” ticket package is available by visiting PhxMerc.com/GrinerPack. Fans who purchase the pack will receive a ticket to three of Griner’s first games and an autographed picture. Exclusive Brittney Griner merchandise is also available at ShopMercury.com.